@Webish before you invest take time to eduacate yourself...The Inteligent Investor by Sparkly...no i mearnt to say Benjamin Graham...LOL...is one stop..@ 13 bob Mumias is a no go...remeber the heavy rains experienced this year affected farmers...

@ webish, i do not want to mention names but treat @numberlike's advice with caution.

The urge to speculate as a new investor is usually very high. You will be waiting to bite at the latest hot tip and latest news.

When your share rises by 10% you will be over-excited, You will boast to your friends, you will want to sell immediately and make a profit.

When your share falls by 5% you will suffer from indigestion, lack of sleep and you will want to run to the broker and sell to avoid further losses.

There is no problem with speculation - in fact i would encourage you to trade, get a feel of the market, do a bit of speculation. It is very hard to suppress the trading instinct, just control it. however you must not get carried away.

Bottomline: Be careful when picking your buys, do not be in a hurry. I suggest that you pick 3 quality stocks in different sectors and buy more periodically with the mentality that you will not sell in the next 5 years. Try Safaricom, Kenol and centum. You will be amazed!

Most definately for a new investor u hav to be cautious. But dnt even dare touch kenolkobil. With this price control act . This stock isnt attractive. Dnt be let down by your first failure coz it may come but look past that failure and learn from it. And by tha way funny enough no one has mentiond this : Your stock price has to rise over 4.26 % to make a profit. That is anything after this percentage is what u take home. I am currently up over 30 % on Co-Op alone. So u can imagine the feeling. By the way ,what are your stock picks if you are serious ???

@web. Price control hav never been a good thing especially if it affects the core business of any company. It doesnt take rocket science to know that if the gov. Puts a limit on the price u can place on your goods your profits 'll be tampered with. With low profits then comes low dividends with low dividends then comes low portfolin growth. I think u know where i am headed. The same simple logic is applicable to kenolkobil. Price cöntrol has never been a good thing as it blocks growth. I'd rather u invest where you have certainity. As investors tend to flock to such stocks. NO TO KENOLKOBIL.

I'm really appreciating what you guys are putting up here. to be frank with you, i don't even have a cds acc yet, but planning to have one as soon as my next trip to town. for now, i take time(little) to learn and put myself in the know first before i make any moves. what i'm gathering is already overwhelming. i'm also digging through Bankeleles' archives to check n see what had passed by.
Meanwhile, how do i choose a broker.(hope it doesn't hurt to give feedback, be easy on me.)